Subdividing tool



J. F. BERGANDER.

SUBDIVIDING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 19 21.

mmza, e t y16,1922.

entries JOHN r. BERGANDER, or crrr'cneo, rLLrnor-s.

SUBDIVIDING TOOL.

at-ease.

Application filed September 15,1821. Serial No. 500,874.

To altwhom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN F. BERGANDER, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Subdividing Tools, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to devices for subdividing solids and is of particular utility in shaving bars of soap into chips or slices, a form in which the soap may be quickly dis solved.

In carrying out my invention I employ a knife having a guide formation thereon to define a relative movement between the knife and the soap or other solid being subdivided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the knife is reciprocable and the solid is held. There is desirably a jacket for the solid whereby it may be held, this jacket having tongue and groove engagement with the knife, whereby the bodily movement of the knife with respect to the solid is defined.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention and a block of solid material, such as a,

bar of soap, positioned to be shaved by the knife; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the arrangement of Fig. 1, only a part of the knife being illustrated for lack of space; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the acket and a portion of the knife before these parts are assembled.

Like parts are indicated by similar char acters of reference throughout the different figures.

The knife 1 is generally rectangular in shape. It has a number of transverse rows of staggered holes 2. The edges of these holes are sharpened, as indicated at 3, to con stitute the cutting edges of the knife. The longitudinal edge portions 4 of the knife are turned in to underlie the body of the knife. These edge portions are spaced apart from the balance of the knife to constitute grooveways 5 extending longitudinally of the knife.

A jacket 6 is shaped to conform to the body 7 that is to be subdivided. In this instance said jacket is generally oblong to conform to the standard shape of a bar of laundry soap common in the grocery trade. This jacket is open ended so that it merely surrounds the soap that may extend through each end thereof. The jacket is margined by tongues or flanges 8 that are received in the grooves 5.

In operation, the knife is placed uppermost and the jacket is gripped to hold it sta tionary while the knife is reciprocated. The bar of soap 7 surrounded by the jacket is rested upon a suitable support and the knife is pressed. down, while it is being reciprocated, with sufficient force to press the soap (which is in sliding fit within the jacket) against the under face of the knife. The sharpened edges 3 of the knife project below the general plane of the knife so that the soap is sliced into ribbons as the knife is reciprocated.

In order that the soap may be completely fed toward the knife without endangering the fingers, the opposite sides of the jacket are cut away to form thumb and finger recesses 9 and 10 through which the remnant of the soap that is being subdivided may be grasped by the thumb and finger.

In order to prevent the jacket and knife from becoming separated, one end of the knife is formed with an angular ear 11 and the other end is curled as indicated at 12, the portions 11 and 12 extending below the grooves 5. The curled end 12 of the knife may also serve as a handle for the knife and, being hollow, may additionally serve to support the device upon a hook or nail.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but

having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following l. A device of the class described including a knife that is generally rectangular and that is formed with cutting edges between its longitudinal sides, said knife having its longitudinal edge portions turned over and spaced apart from the balance of the knife to form longitudinal grooves; and a jacket formed with tongues that are received in the aforesaid grooves, opposite sides of said jacket being formed with thumb and finger recesses through which the remnant of the material surrounded thereby may be grasped.

ing a knife; and a jacket with which the knife is in sliding engagement, opposite sides of said jacket being formed with thumb and finger recesses through which the remnant of the material surrounded "a thereby may be grasped.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of September, A. D.

JOHN F. BERGANDER. 

